LGD: Anders-in
By ThatsKappy
6 years agoGood morning, friends! Are you ready for some playoff hockey?
I know, I am too, but let’s slow things down a little here. The Leafs (43-22-7) enter their final ten games of the regular season tonight as they pay visit to the Tampa Bay Lightning (49-19-4). While technically not a playoff game, it’ll be the Leafs’ first against a team that has clinched a playoff spot this season. It could also be a little sneak peek at Round 1 or 2 for the boys in blue and white… err, both teams, that is.
Leafs Lines
 PATRICK MARLEAU |  NAZEM KADRI |  MITCH MARNER |
 ZACH HYMAN |  WILLIAM NYLANDER |  ANDREAS JOHNSSON |
 JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK |  TYLER BOZAK |  CONNOR BROWN |
 JOSH LEIVO |  TOMAS PLEKANEC |  KASPERI KAPANEN |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 MORGAN RIELLY |  RON HAINSEY |
 JAKE GARDINER |  ROMAN POLAK |
 TRAVIS DERMOTT |  CONNOR CARRICK |
No Zaitsev, Komarov or Matthews for the Leafs. Auston made headlines over the weekend, as is Toronto tradition, for showing up to practice without his red non-contact jersey. However, he will miss his 20th game of the season tonight as he remains on the road to recovery.
Lightning Lines
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
 J.T. MILLER |  STEVEN STAMKOS |  NIKITA KUCHEROV |
 ONDREJ PALAT |  BRAYDEN POINT |  TYLER JOHNSON |
 ALEX KILLORN |  YANNI GOURDE |  ADAM ERNE |
 CHRIS KUNITZ |  ANTHONY CIRELLI |  RYAN CALLAHAN |
| DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS | |
|---|---|
 VICTOR HEDMAN |  ANTON STRALMAN |
 RYAN MCDONAGH |  DAN GIRARDI |
 BRAYDON COBURN |  MIKHAIL SERGACHEV |
The Lightning are fully healthy, meanwhile, save for Eric Condra. This is very much a look at the team the Leafs could be drawing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs early next month.
Starting Goalies
Fredward Andersen is back for the Leafs. A good sign, but here’s to hoping the Leafs don’t burn him out down this final stretch before things start to count.
Unsurprisingly, the Leafs draw Andrei Vasilevskiy and his .922 save percentage on the other end. This could be a fun little goalie duel tonight.
Notes
- The Leafs are 1-1-1 against the Lightning this season. They most recently saw a comeback effort fall short on February 26th, losing 4-3 in the shootout.
- Nikita Kucherov is four shy of 40 goals and seven points off of 100 on the season. Naturally, he’ll have a career night and hit both tonight in all likelihood.
- The Leafs can match their point total from last season (95) with a win tonight. That’s with 9 more games left to be played. This team has certainly stepped it up/
Puck drop is at 7:30pm ET on TSN4.
LGD BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE PINT
Make the Pint your home for all things game day. We give away a free pound of wings during every game either home or away. 4.40$ mugs of Bud and Bud Lights.
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